Visual voicemail is easy to turn off, but the steps depend on your phone type and carrier
Visual voicemail lets you see a list of voicemails on your screen instead of calling in to listen to them one by one. If you want to go back to the standard voicemail system your carrier provides, you can disable it in a few minutes. The process is different for iPhone and Android phones, and some carriers have their own visual voicemail apps that need separate steps to remove.
The fastest way is usually to delete the visual voicemail app from your phone entirely. If that does not work, or if visual voicemail is built into your phone's settings, you can turn it off through your carrier's website or by calling them directly.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, you can delete the Visual Voicemail app from your home screen, which disables the feature entirely.
- On Android, the steps vary by phone manufacturer and carrier, but usually involve going to Phone settings and turning off visual voicemail in the voicemail section.
- If your carrier has its own visual voicemail app (like AT&T Call Protect or T-Mobile VoiceMail), you need to delete that specific app, not just turn off a setting.
- Calling your carrier's customer service is the most reliable way to confirm visual voicemail is off if you are unsure whether you have removed it completely.
How to turn off visual voicemail on iPhone
On iPhone, visual voicemail is built into the Phone app. To disable it, you need to delete the Visual Voicemail app from your home screen. Press and hold the Visual Voicemail app icon, then tap "Remove App" and confirm by tapping "Remove from Home Screen." This stops visual voicemail from working and returns you to standard voicemail.
If you do not see a separate Visual Voicemail app, check whether your carrier has its own voicemail app installed. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and other carriers sometimes provide branded apps. Look for apps named after your carrier plus "voicemail" or "visual voicemail" and delete those the same way.
After you delete the app, your phone will use your carrier's standard voicemail system. Callers will still be able to leave messages, but you will access them by dialing your voicemail number (usually *86 or a number printed on your bill) instead of seeing them listed on your screen.
How to turn off visual voicemail on Android
Android phones vary by manufacturer, so the exact steps depend on whether you have a Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, or another brand. Start by opening the Phone app and looking for a menu icon (three dots or lines) in the top corner. Tap it and look for "Settings" or "Voicemail settings."
Once you are in voicemail settings, look for an option that says "Visual Voicemail," "Voicemail Service," or "Advanced Settings." If you see a toggle next to visual voicemail, turn it off. If you see a dropdown menu, select "Standard Voicemail" or "Carrier Voicemail" instead of the visual option.
If your carrier has its own voicemail app (Google Voice, T-Mobile VoiceMail, AT&T Call Protect, or Verizon Message+), you will need to delete that app separately. Go to Settings, then Apps or Application Manager, find the voicemail app by name, and tap "Uninstall."
Removing carrier-specific voicemail apps
Some carriers push their own visual voicemail apps instead of using the phone's built-in system. These apps have names like "T-Mobile VoiceMail," "AT&T Call Protect," "Verizon Message+," or "Google Voice." If you have one of these installed, deleting it is the most direct way to stop using visual voicemail.
On iPhone, find the app on your home screen, press and hold it, and tap "Remove App." On Android, go to Settings, find Apps or Application Manager, search for the app by name, and tap "Uninstall." After you remove it, you will use your carrier's standard voicemail by dialing the access number on your bill.
If you cannot uninstall the app (some carrier apps cannot be removed on certain phones), you can usually disable it instead. Go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and tap "Disable" or "Turn Off." This prevents it from running in the background and stops it from intercepting voicemail calls.
Turning off visual voicemail through your carrier's website
If you cannot find the visual voicemail setting on your phone, you can disable it through your carrier's account page online. Log into your account on your carrier's website (Verizon.com, AT&T.com, T-Mobile.com, or your carrier's equivalent), go to your phone number or line settings, and look for a voicemail or services section.
Look for an option to manage voicemail services or visual voicemail. You should see a toggle or checkbox to turn visual voicemail off. Click it and save your changes. The change usually takes effect within a few minutes, though some carriers take up to an hour.
This method works even if you are not sure whether you have the right app deleted or the right setting turned off on your phone. Your carrier's website is the source of truth for what services are active on your line.
Calling your carrier to confirm visual voicemail is off
If you have tried the steps above and are still not sure whether visual voicemail is disabled, call your carrier's customer service. The number is on your bill or on your carrier's website. Tell them you want to turn off visual voicemail and switch to standard voicemail.
Customer service can confirm whether visual voicemail is currently active on your line, disable it on their end if needed, and walk you through any remaining steps on your phone. They can also tell you what your voicemail access number is so you can set it up in your phone's contacts for quick dialing.
This is the most reliable way to make sure the change has taken effect, especially if you have tried multiple steps and are still seeing visual voicemail on your screen.
What happens after you turn off visual voicemail
Once visual voicemail is off, your phone will use standard voicemail. When someone leaves you a message, you will get a notification (usually a text or a badge on your Phone app), but you will not see a list of messages on your screen. Instead, you will dial your voicemail access number to listen to messages one at a time, just like older voicemail systems work.
Your voicemail access number is usually *86 or a 10-digit number printed on your bill. You can save it in your contacts so you can dial it quickly. Some carriers let you set up a voicemail password for security, which you may be prompted to create the first time you call in.
If you change your mind later, you can turn visual voicemail back on by reinstalling the app, going back into settings, or calling your carrier again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my old voicemail messages if I turn off visual voicemail?
No. Your voicemail messages are stored on your carrier's servers, not in the visual voicemail app. Turning off visual voicemail or deleting the app does not delete your messages. You can still listen to them by dialing your voicemail access number.
Can I use Google Voice instead of my carrier's visual voicemail?
Yes. Google Voice is a separate service that works on top of your carrier's voicemail. You can set it up to intercept calls and provide its own voicemail system. However, this requires a Google Voice number and some setup steps. If you just want to turn off visual voicemail without replacing it, follow the steps above instead.
Why does visual voicemail keep turning back on after I delete the app?
Some carriers automatically re-enable visual voicemail or reinstall the app after a software update. If this happens, call your carrier and ask them to disable visual voicemail on your account permanently. You can also check your phone's app store settings to see if the app is set to auto-install.
Do I have to pay extra to use standard voicemail instead of visual voicemail?
No. Standard voicemail is included with your carrier plan. Visual voicemail is also usually free, so switching between them does not change your bill.
What if my phone does not have a visual voicemail app at all?
Then visual voicemail is not active on your line. You are already using standard voicemail. You can confirm this by calling your carrier or checking your account online.